Apparatus for  washing and dispensing golf balls and the like



March 24, 1964 c. c. CLIFTON APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND DISPENSING- GOLF BALLS AND THE LIKE Filed May 7, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Chesfer C. C/iffon 'ATTORNEYS C. C. CLIFTON APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND DISPENSING GOLF BALLS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 24, 1964 Filed May 7, 1962 ti 80 A INVENTOR. Chesfer C. Cliffon R i g T ATTORNEYS March 24, 1964 c. c. CLIFTON 7 APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND DISPENSING GOLF BALLS AND THE LIKE Filed May 7, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 F I. g I I INVENTOR.

Chesfer C. Clifton ATTORNEYS March 24, 1964 c. c. CLIFTON APPARATUS FOR- WASHING AND DISPENSING GOLF BALLS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May '7, 1962 INVENTOR. Ch esfer C. C/iffon A TTORNEYS United States Patent 3,125,7 75 APPARATUd FUR WASHING AND DISPENSING GQLF BALLS AND THE LIKE Chester C. Clifton, Denver, Colo, assignor to Ball-0- Matic, Inc., Denver, Colo., a corporation of Colorado Filed May 7, 1962, Ser. No. 192,626 Claims. (Cl. -97) This invention relates to washing and dispensing apparatus and particularly to an improved apparatus for washing golf balls .and the like and for dispensing them after washing.

Golf clubs and public driving ranges require large quan- 'tit-ies of golf balls for use on practice driving ranges. It is the common practice to allow the driven balls to accumulate on the range until large numbers must be picked up and returned for re-use. Because of the marking and staining of the balls on impact with the ground and vegetation it is necessary to wash the balls to maintain them in good condition for use. Players using a driving range prefer to have the golf balls clean and as near in appearance to new balls. as practicable. Many devices have been provided heretofore. to wash golf balls to keep them in good playing condition; these devices range from the individual ball washers provided on the golf course for use during regular play to apparatus for washing large quantities of balls. While these devices have been suitable at least for some applications, they have not been fully satisfactory for all requirements.

The dispensing of golf balls for use on driving ranges requires substantial labor for sorting and counting. It is the common practice to provide a predetermined quantity of balls, usually rented by the bucket, the bucket being filled to a level determined by the practice of the particular driving range. The count of the number of balls in the bucket is sometimes approximate, the bucket being filled to a selected level rather than by an accurate count of the balls. From the standpoint of both the operator of the driving range and the user it is desirable that the count be consistently accurate. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for washing golf balls and the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for washing and dispensing large quantities of golf balls and the like.

it is another object of this invention to provide an improved appara-tus for washing golf balls and the like and for dispensing them in accurately counted predetermined quantities.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a rugged and reliable automatic apparatus for washing and dispensing golf balls and the like.

Briefly, in carrying out the objects of this invention in one embodiment thereof, a golf ball washing and dispensing machine is constructed within a generally vertical casing or cabinet having a hopper in the lower portion thereof to receive quantities of golf balls to be washed. The washing device includes a lower roller and an upper roller connected by a flexible belt of tough pliable waterproof material having a rough surface. The upper roller extends laterally from the belt and is covered with material similar to that of the belt. The rollers are motor driven and the golf balls are fed from the hopper to a guideway or channel around the lower roller and upwardly along the belt to a distributing trough adjacent. the

upper roller- Water or washing solution. is provided in the hopper and the balls wet by the solution are washed in a continuing process around the lower roller and as they are carried upwardly to the distributor. The distributor feeds the balls to a plurality of dispensing guides and electric controls are provided to maintain operation of the 3,125,775 Patented Mar. 24, 1964 washer until sufficient balls are accumulated tor dispensing and to start the system again on depletion of the supply. Coin operated mechanism may be employed to effect the dispensing of the balls in predetermined measured quantities.

The features of novelty which characterize this invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. The invention. itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will more readily be understood upon reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ball washing and dispensing apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view partly broken away with the front cover or door removed;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional plan view along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a back view of the front door shown removed and on small scale;

FIG. 6 is a sectional plan view along the line 66 of FIG. 2;.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIG- 2;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective view of the washing and transporting devices of the apparatus of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the circuit employed with the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a golf ball washing and dispensing apparatus embodying the invention and which is arranged within a generally rectangular cabinet '10 having a hinged front door or panel 11 preferably attached to the cabinet by a hinge of the piano type (not shown). The front panel is provided with a coin slot mechanism .12 for actuating the device and releasing a measured quantity of golf balls. When the balls are released they are delivered through a chute 13 and may 'be collected in a receptacle placed on a shelf 14 immediately below the chute. A signal light 15 is provided immediately above the coin actuating device 12 and is lighted whenever insuflicient golf balls are available on the racks to deliver the required quantity for the coin inserted in the device 12. During the use of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1,.each timeit is operated by inserting a coin and pressing the lever of the device 12 a measured quantity of golf balls, saythirty, is delivered through the chute 13. The balls as delivered have been washed within the apparatus and are ready for use.

The general arrangement and construction of the apparatus is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 which are views of the interior of the cabinet with portions broken away to show functioning parts. Near the lower end of the cabinet there is arranged a hopper 17 which is adapted to contain i quantity of golf balls which may be heaped upwardly on the hopper. Immediately below the hopper is a rectangular pan 18' within which washing water or other solution is maintained to a level indicated at 26. An elongated vertical housing 21 extends upwardly from the rear portion of the pan 18 to near the top of the enclosure and carries a roller 22 at the lower end journaled in bearings 23 at the sides of the housing. Immediately above the housing 21 there is provided an elongated roller 24 which extends across the cabinet and is journaled in bearing assemblies 25 and 26 suitably secured to the cabinet. A flexible belt 30 is mounted on the rollers 22 and 24 so that the roller 22. is driven when the roller 24 is rotated. The roller 24 is driven by an electric motor 31 mounted on a shelf or base 32 extending across the cabinet between a pair of brackets the left-hand one of which is shown at 27. The brackets are pivoted at their forward ends at 28 and the base 32 hangs from two adjustable rods 25? connected to the rear edge, the rods being supported from the top of the cabinet. The brackets may be locked by bolts 28a passing through slots in the brackets. The motor is connected by a chain 33 and sprockets 34 and 35 to drive the roller 24 and thus drive the belt 30 and roller 22.

In order to carry golf balls from the hopper 17 into the washing mechanism, a semicircular guide member 40 substantially concentric with the shaft of the roller 22 is provided adjacent the roller and spaced from the lower half thereof, the spacing being sufiicient to accommodate a golf ball in firm frictional engagement with the belt, which covers the roller; this provides a drive member around the turning portion of the belt 30 so that golf balls admitted to the left-hand end of the guide 49 as viewed in FIG. 2 will be carried around the guide when the roller 22 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction; thus the balls are carried under the roller and on leaving the guide 4% are engaged by a Vertical guide 41 of angular cross section such as an angle iron and which extends upwardly parallel to the straight section of the belt 36 at the rear of the cabinet. The cross section of this vertical guide is clearly shown in FIG. 4 and in FIGS. 6 and 7 which illustrate a golf ball 42 being carried between the belt 36 and the guide 41. The inner face of the guide 4-1 is covered by a liner of friction material 43 similar to that of the belt 30.

The functions of the motor driven roller, belt and guide assembly just described are twofold; first, the assembly constitutes the principal washing mechanism and, second, it transports the balls from the hopper 17 to the upper end of the cabinet for distribution to a dispensing apparatus la.er to be described. In order to supply the golf balls to this guide assembly the hopper 17 as shown in FIG. 6 is made of sheet metal and comprises two generally triangular side sections 44 and 45 and trapezoidal front and rear sections 46 and 47, respectively, all joined at their edges and sloping downwardly toward the center to provide the hopper construction. The side sections 44 and 45 are slightly bent along lines 46a and 45a to provide a dished configuration. Centrally of the hopper and in the rear portion 47 thereof there is provided a rectangular opening 48 through which the belt 30 and the guide 41 pass upwardly from their positions adjacent the roller 22. Within the opening 48 and sloping downwardly from the lower edge of the wall panel 46 there is provided a narrow central bottom wall or chute 50 terminating at the circular guide 41 and conforming to the outer surface thereof.

A pair of pivotally movable bottom wall pieces 51 are provided in the opening 48 on either side of the sloping wall 50 and are moved up and down to agitate the balls in the hopper. Triangular vertical walls 52 extend downwardly on either side of the opening 48 and are provided to prevent golf balls from leaving the hopper except through the guide 40. The bottom wall pieces 51 are pivotally mounted along their edges adjacent the belt 311 and have downwardly extending flanges 53 at their forward ends which engage pins 54 extending inwardly from a U-shaped rocker bar 55; the bar 55 is pivoted at the rear of the cabinet as indicated at 56, and has a slot 57 in one arm in line with the shaft of the roller 23. An eccentric pin 58 on the roller shaft extends through the slot so that rotation of the roller produces a rocking action of the bar about the pivot 56 and pivots the bottom wall pieces 51 up and down to maintain agitation of the golf balls within the hopper 17 and to facilitate the feeding of the golf balls to the entrance of the guide 40. It will be understood that other forms of agitators may 4 be employed, only one form having been illustrated merely by way of example.

Water or washing solution from the tank 18 is circulated continuously by operation of a centrifugal pump 66 driven by a motor 61 and removes liquid from the tank through a connection 62 and delivers it through a hose or pipe 63 extending upwardly within the cabinet and which is turned downwardly for discharging the liquid over a distributing battle or screen 64 immediately above the hopper 17. The complete section of the hose 63 between the pump and the outlet end has not been illustrated, it having been omitted to avoid further complication of drawings. When it is desired to empty the tank 13, a valve 65 is actuated to close the passage to the hose 63 and open a drain connection a portion of which is indicated at 66 thereby delivering the solution to any desired waste point. The hopper may be filled with golf balls to be cleaned by opening the front cover or door 11 of the cabinet so that the hopper is accessible from the front. When the door 11 is open the hopper is accessible upon rotating a flap or panel 6'7 about pins 68; a pair of chains 70 attached to the ends of the panel 67 by springs 71 may be hooked to eyes '72 attached to the upper side edges of the door opening, the end of each chain having a hook 73.

It will now be apparent that the balls within the hopper 17 are continuously agitated while the belt 31) is in operation to turn the roller 22. The speed of the belt is determined by the gear ratio of the motor 31 which is preferably of the gear motor type providing relatively low speed of rotation of the roller 24 and relatively slow movement of the belt 30. For example, the belt speed may be of the order of 75 feet per minute. Balls leave the hopper through the entrance to the guide 40 and are carried around the roller in contact with the belt and thence upwardly with the belt along the vertical guide 41. The belt is flexible and waterproof and made of a material such as a tough impregnated fabric having an outer coating or layer of rubber-like material providing a friction surface which readily carries the balls around the course of the guides and at the same time thoroughly rubs and washes the balls as they are moved along as they are transported from the hopper 17 to the top of the cabinet. The surface of the belt is made sufliciently rough to provide adequate friction and rubbing action for the required washing and may have numerous knobs or fingers for this purpose.

The washing and cleaning of the golf balls begins in the hopper 17 due to the agitation of the balls in the hopper by operation of the rocking pieces 51, the balls in the hopper being continuously wet by the cleaning solution supplied through the hose 63. A scrubbing action is effected when the balls engage the belt 30 and continues vigorously when they enter and proceed around the arcuate guide 40; here the friction of the belt 30 as it pushs the balls around the arcuate guide serves to scrub and wash the surfaces of the balls. As the balls proceed upwardly they are engaged by the belt 30 and by the friction material on the guide 41, each ball being in effect in a three-point contact relationship with the guide and belt. The belt and guide 41 thus carry the balls upwardly toward the top of the cabinet and continue the washing and scrubbing operation throughout their upward course along the guide.

In order to provide a backing member for the belt 31) to assure good frictional engagement with the balls, a plate 74 is mounted adjacent the belt in light frictional engagement therewith; thus as the balls move up the guide they are pressed between the rough rubber-like surfaces of the guide and belt and are scrubbed as they roll upwards. In addition a plurality of screws or bolts 75, one of which is shown in FIG. 7, are arranged at spaced intervals along one side of the guide 41 so that they form bumps 75a in the liner 43. These bumps in the liner cause the balls to rotate or shift in position and facilitate uniform cleaning of each ball as it moves up the guide. As shown in FIG. 7 the guide 41 is mounted on lateral lugs 41a movably secured to the cabinet 10 on bolts 36, the lugs being urged away from the cabinet wall by compression springs 37. It will thus be seen that the guide 41 will move back in the event a larger ball or a ball having bumps should tend to jam between the guide and the belt 30.

In order to secure a longer washing period during the transportation of the balls and to provide a final cleaning stage to assure complete washing of heavily muddied or stained balls, a scrubbing box 76 is provided between the top of the guide 41 and the horizontal center line of roller 24. The box 76 has a cross section two balls deep and three balls wide and the balls enter from the guide 41 at the front center of the bottom of the box as indicated in FIG. 4, and fill the box in layers of approximately six balls each.

When the balls reach the top of the box 76 they enter a cross passage or manifold indicated at 77 in FIG. 2, which is of generally triangular cross section and is formed in the upper right-hand corner of the cabinet, as viewed in FIG. 2. The front of the manifold is formed by a screen 78 which slopes at an angle of about 45 forwardly and upwardly from the top of the roller 24 to near the top wall of the cabinet. The remainder of the manifold is formed by the top and the back wall of the cabinet.

After the balls have been washed and supplied to the manifold 77, they are moved laterally through the manifold and supplied to a storage or retaining device comprising pairs of upper and lower tubes or rods 80 and 81, respectively, arranged in two groups of six pairs, one group on either side of the housing 21. The spacing of the tubes of each pair and the spacing between pairs is substantially equal and such that each set of six pairs provides five channels or passageways each formed by two adjacent pairs of tubes for collecting the washed golf balls. The bottom tubes 81 extend upwardly and have vertical portions at the top along the rear of the manifold 77; the top tubes 80 terminate at their upper ends near the center line of the roller 24 adjacent the top end of the box 76. At their lower ends the pairs of tubes 80 and 81 are tied together by straps indicated at 82; this construction is shown in FIG. 8 which is an enlarged detail view of the dispensing mechanism connected to receive balls from the lower ends of the guideways formed by the tubes 80 and 81. The details of the dispensing mechanism and the manner in which it operates are set forth below in connection with the description of FIG. 8. The dispensing mechanism includes two boxes or cradles 83 pivotally mounted on a common longitudinal axis, each box receiving balls from the guideways formed by one of the groups of six sets of tubes 80 and 81.

The general arrangement of the washing and transporting apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 9, which is a diagrammatic view showing the path of the balls through the equipment. As shown in this figure, the hopper, rollers 22 and 24, and the belt 30 are illustrated and the manifold 77 has been shown as a straight line across the upper end adjacent the roller 24. The paths through the storage guideways have been indicated in dotted lines and the two boxes 83 have been shown in full lines in their normal positions and in dotted lines in their ball dispensing positions. The paths of the balls moving from the boxes 83 to the delivery chute 13 are also indicated by dotted lines extending from the boxes 83 through the chute 13 and vertically downward. When all of the guideways are filled with balls additional balls reaching the manifold 77 are accumulated and fill the manifold and eventually jam up sulficiently to press an actuator arm 84a of a switch 84 which is connected in the control circuit of motor 31 and upon opening stops the motor thereby interrupting the operation of the ball washing mechanism and stopping the supply of balls to the manifold.

The dispensing mechanism illustrated is arranged to deliver three balls at a time from each of the ten storage guideways upon operation of the coin controlled lever 12. Thus, for the coin inserted the purchaser receives thirty golf balls, which may be collected in a receptacle held below the chute 13. In order to insure a complete supply of thirty golf balls each time the coin controlled mechanism is operated, there are provided on the farthest guides from the center a pair of switches designated and 86 which are normally closed switches held open whenever a golf ball is present in the guideway adjacent the switch. It will thus be apparent that when the supply of golf balls in either of the outer two guideways is exhausted, the respective normally closed switch will move to its closed position. The closing of the switch is employed to energize the motor 31 and operate the system to supply more golf balls to the upper cross distributing manifold and thereby again fill the outer guideways.

A second pair of normally closed switches is arranged on the outer two guideways below the switches 85 and 86, as indicated at 87 and 88. These two switches are arranged so that the signal lamp 15 is lighted whenever either switch moves to its closed position, and are so located that, in the event there are insufficient golf balls in either of the outer two passages to provide the required count, the warning light apprises the operator of this fact so that he can wait until the machine has again loaded the outer guideways. It will be understood that the arrangement of the lateral distributing passageway 77 at the upper end of the guideway adjacent the roller 24 is such that the inner guideways are filled with golf balls before the outer guideways so that the arrangement of the switches 85, 86, 87 and 88 on the outer guideways assures an indication of the emptying of the guideways farthest from the center.

During the distribution of the golf balls after they leave the box 76 at the top and move laterally along the roller, it will be seen that there is a continued frictional engagement of the balls with the roller 24 and with adjacent balls so that the cleaning action is continued until the balls enter the top ends of the guideways formed by the guide rods 80 and 81.

The mechanism for counting and releasing the golf balls is illustrated in FIG. 8 which is a side elevation view of the golf ball dispensing mechanism. All the rods are tied together in the required spaced relationship by the strap 82 and are secured to the front of the cabinet by a strap 90 which is secured to the strap 82 by suitable bolts, one of which is indicated at 91. The boxes 83 are positioned immediately below the lower end of the rod assembly as shown in FIG. 8, each being in alignment with the guideways formed by the rods 89 and 81 and each cradle has five pockets each in alignment with a corresponding one of the ball dispensing guideways and arranged to hold three golf balls; the lowermost ball in each pocket is held against a finger 92 formed on the strap 90 in alignment with the guideway. The cradles 83 are pivoted on pins 8301 so that they rotate about their longitudinal axis between bracket plates 93.

Each of the dispensing cradles 83 is held against a solenoid plunger 94 by a tension spring 95 secured to a pivot rod 96 on the cradle and to the dispensing mechanism supporting indicated at 97. The rod 96 is secured to both cradles 83 and ties them together for pivotal movement. The plunger is arranged to be actuated by a solenoid 98 which is pivotally attached to the bracket at 180. The plunger 94 is pivotally attached to the cradles 83 on rod 96 and when the solenoid is energized it tips the cradles 83 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 8. Tipping of the cradles moves the lowermost golf balls oif the stop 92 and at the same time moves a stop plate 101 into position opposite the bottom golf balls between the guides 80 and 81. In this manner the five rows of three golf balls each carried by the cradle are released and at the same time further balls are prevented from moving out from between the guideways.

The energization of the solenoid 95 is effected by operation of the coin controlled mechanism 12 upon inward movement of the coin plunger indicated at 102. The plunger 1112 has a spring 193 secured to its inner end which is positioned to energize an actuator 11M and close a normally open control switch indicated at 1195. Closing of the switch energizes the solenoid through a circuit (not shown) and also starts a timer 1% to hold the switch closed for a predetermined time sufiicient to release all the balls before the cradle is returned whether or not the plunger 1112 is returned to its starting position. At the end of the predetermined time the switch is restored to its normally open condition. When the switch is opened the solenoid is tie-energized and the cradles are returned by the spring 95 to the position shown in FIG. 8; the next three balls then move downwardly from each of the guideways into position in the respective pockets on the cradle and the dispenser is ready for its next actuation.

The balls released from the cradles fall into the chute 13 in the front panel of the cabinet. In order to guide the balls from all ten release points into the chute 13 a bathe 107 is provided on the door as shown in FIG. 5 and extends upwardly on either side of the chute 13 at an angle of about 20 and is provided with guards 108 at its upper ends. The relative position of the baffle 107 is also indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 3 which have been drawn over the front surface of the panel 67. When the balls are released from the dispensing mechanism they fall into a pocket formed between the front panel, the bathe 107 and the pivoted panel 67, which closes the opening above the hopper 17.

It will now be apparent that this apparatus provides an arrangement for assuring a large supply of washed golf balls ready for quick dispensing and that whenever the supply is low the washing equipment reloads the dispensing ducts and maintains the machine ready for operation at all times, the only necessary servicing operation being the supply of additional balls to the hopper 17 for washing.

The arrangement of the electrical control circuits for assuring automatic operation and proper indication when balls are not available for dispensing is shown in FIG. 10, which is a schematic diagram of the circuits for the motors 31 and 61 and the indicator light 15. The circuit is arranged to be connected to supply lines, indicated at 109, and the motor 61 is arranged so that the pump may be operated continuously by moving a switch 111) to its right-hand position, which connects the motor across the lines 109 provided the main switch indicated at 111 has been closed. When it is desired to operate the pump motor automatically at the same time as the motor 31, the switch 111 is moved to its left-hand position, whereupon the pump motor 61 is energized only when the motor 31 is also connected for operation. When the line switch 111 has been closed, the motor 31 is under the control of the switches 84, 85, 36, S7, and 88, which are normally closed switches, as shown in FIG. 10. These switches are all open when there is a complete supply of golf balls in the guideways between the rods 89 and 81 and filling the distributing manifold at the top of the assembly.

In the normal course of operation the supply of balls in the cross manifold will be depleted and the switch actuator 3411 will fall to allow the switch 8 1 to return to its closed position and thereby connect the line 1119 to the left-hand terminal 114 of a three-bladed switch as sembly 115. As long as the switches 85 to 88, inclusive, remain open due to the presence of golf balls in the two outer pairs of guideways adjacent the switches, the motor 31 will remain idle. However, should the supply of golf balls be used up due to the dispensing of the balls, one of the switches 85 and 86 will close, thereby completing a circuit from one side of the line 1119 through 8. the closed switches to the actuating coil of the switch 115, indicated at 116, and back to the other side of the line 1119. This energizes the coil 116 and moves the blades of the switch 115 to the left into their terminal engaging positions, thereby connecting the terminal 114 to the left-hand terminal of the coil 116 to provide a holding circuit for the coil through the normally closed switch 84. Thus, the coil 116 will remain energized even though the switches and 86 are both open.

Operation of the switch 115 connects the motor 31 across the line 109 through the two left-hand blades of the switch. The motor then continues to operate until the sufficient number of balls have been washed and moved into the dispensing guideways to again open the switches 85, 35, 87 and 88. However, the operation of the motor will now continue because of the holding circuit through the switch 84. A supply of washed golf balls will now be built up until the actuator 84a is pressed by the golf balls at the central portion of the distributing manifold '77 and the switch 84 is moved to its open position, whereupon the coil 116 will be de-energized, the switch 115 will drop out and the motor 31 will be de-energized. When the motor 61 is connected across the same terminals by the switch in its left-hand position, the two motors will operate together under control of the switch 115.

During the operation of the system after one of the switches 85 or 86 has been closed due to the movement of balls away from one of the outer guides adjacent the switch, it may be that the supply of golf balls will be diminished further and will drop to a position such that one of the switches 87 or 88 will be actuated, whereupon the light 15 will be energized through its leads 15a and provide an indication that insufficient balls are in the guideways to supply the full number of balls required for the next operation of the coin controlled lever or plunger 12. Thus, the operator will know that he should wait until the light goes out, indicating that a sufficient number of balls are present before again operating the lever 12. The switches 85, 86, 87 and 88 will be returned to their open positions when the balls again fill the outside guideways and the motor will continue, as stated before, until sufiicient balls are accumulated to open the switch 84. After the switch 84 has been opened, the motor 31 will not again be energized until the supply of balls falls sufficiently to close one of the switches 87 and 88.

The washing operation and the transporting and storage of the balls by the apparatus as illustrated is rapid and the speed of the motor 31 may be set so that the time before a sufficient quantity of balls has been accumulated after the supply has been diminished enough to start the motor is relatively small, and a person awaiting to purchase another supply of the balls will have to wait only a short time until the light 15 goes out and apprises him that the mechanism may be operated and supply a full count.

As an example, and not by way of limitation, a golf ball washing and dispensing machine embodying the invention was constructed with proportions generally those illustrated in the drawings. The height of the machine was about five and one-half feet. The belt employed was of the type sold by Thermoid Division of H. K. Porter Company, Inc. under the name Ruff Top which comprises a rubber impregnated multi-layer fabric having a pure gum cover consisting of many soft rubber gripper points to provide a nonskid surface. The belt was run at a speed of about 75 feet per minute and the machine operated over an extended period to wash thoroughly and dispense large quantities of golf balls after use on a driving range.

While the invention has been described in connec tion with a specific construction of cabinet and arrangement of equipment within the cabinet, various modifications and other applications will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, itis not desired that the invention be limited to the details illustrated and described, and it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications which fall within the spirit and scopeof the invention.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for washing and dispensing golf balls or the like comprising a casing, means in said casing for holding a quantity of balls to be washed, a ball washing means, means for retaining washed balls in position for dispensing, means for moving balls from said holding means to said ball washing means, means for delivering balls to said retaining means, conveyor means including a flexible driving element and a guide track adjacent thereto for moving the balls in a single line toward said delivering means and constituting a portion of said washing means for moving the balls from said washing means to said ball delivering means, and means providing an enlarged chamber for accumulating a mass of balls in frictional engagement with one another between said track and said delivering means for holding some of the accumulated balls in engagement with said driving element whereby the average rate of movement of'the individual balls is slowed and further cleaning is effected by rotation of the accumulated balls.

2. An apparatus for washing and dispensing golf balls or the like comprising means for holding a quantity of balls to be washed, a ball washing means, means for re taining washed balls in position for dispensing, means for conducting balls from said holding means to said ball washing means, means for delivering balls to said retaining means, and conveyor means comprising a portion of the washing means and including an upwardly extending flexible belt and a guide member extending along said belt in spaced relationship for engaging the balls and holding them against said belt for frictional engagement and rolling movement therewith, and means providing an enlarged chamber above said guide member for receiving balls therefrom and holding an accumulation of balls adjacent said belt for further cleaning by rubbing action with the belt and with each other before they are moved upwardly toward said delivering means.

3. An apparatus for washing and dispensing golf balls or the like comprising means for holding a quantity of balls to be washed, a ball washing means including a first roller, means for retaining washed balls in position for dispensing, means for conducting balls from said holding means to said ball washing means, means for delivering balls to said retaining means, and conveyor means constituting a portion of said washing means for moving balls from said Washing means toward said ball delivering means, said ball conveying means comprising a second roller mounted on an axis parallel to that of said first roller and having a portion extending laterally adjacent said ball delivering'means and a flexible belt having a pliable friction surface and mounted on said rollers, means providing a straight guideway having an entrance end in registry with said guide path and extending along a portion of said belt in parallel spaced relationship for utilizing said belt to frictionally move balls along said guideway whereby the cleaning of the balls continues as they are moved along said guideway, and means including a friction covering on said portion of said second roller for facilitating the movement of the balls toward said retaining means, said second roller tending to lift the balls as they move laterally along said ball delivering means.

4. An apparatus for washing and dispensing golf balls or the like comprising means for holding a quantity of balls to be washed, a ball washing means including a first roller, means for retaining washed balls in position for dispensing, means for conducting balls from said holding means to said ball washing means, means for delivering balls to said retaining means, and conveyor means constituting a portion of said washing means for moving balls from said washing means toward said ball delivering means, said ball conveying means comprising a second roller mounted on an axis parallel to that of said first roller and adjacent said ball delivering means and a flexible belt having a pliable friction surface mounted on said rollers, means providing a straight guideway having an entrance end in registry with said guide path and extending along a portion of said belt in parallel spaced relationship for utilizing said belt to frictionally move balls along said guideway whereby the cleaning of the balls continues as they are moved along said guideway, and means constituting a portion of said guideway and providing an enlarged guide chamber adjacent the upper portion of said belt for accumulating a quantity of balls and for effecting further cleaning of balls therein while decreasing the average rate of movement of the balls toward said delivering means.

5. An apparatus for washing and dispensing golf balls or the like comprising means for holding a quantity of balls to be washed, a ball washing means, means for retaining washed balls in position for dispensing, means for conducting balls from said holding means to said ball washing means, means for delivering balls to said retaining means, and conveyor means constituting a portion of said washing means for moving balls from said washing means toward said ball delivering means, said conveyor means comprising an upwardly extending flexible belt having a pliable friction surface and a guide member extending along said belt in spaced relationship for holding balls against said belt for rolling movement therewith, spring means for urging said guide against said belt, and a backing plate for retaining the straight portion of said belt in position while moving balls along said guide.

6. An apparatus for washing and dispensing golf balls or the like comprising means for holding a quantity of balls to be washed, a ball washing means including a first roller, means for retaining washed balls in position for dispensing, means for conducting balls from said holding means to said ball washing means, means for delivering balls to said retaining means, and conveyor means including an upper roller positioned above said first roller and a flexible driving belt and a guide track parallel thereto for moving balls in line to said delivering means, said upper roller being covered with a pliable friction material like that of said belt, and said upper roller having a length substantially greater than the width of said belt and extending laterally thereof and constituting a wall of said delivering means for facilitating the movement of the balls along said delivering means and for continuing the cleaning action by the agitating and rubbing action of said upper roller.

7. An apparatus for washing and dispensing golf balls or the like comprising means for holding a quantity of balls to be washed, a ball Washing means, means for retaining a quantity of washed balls in position for dispensmg, means for conducting balls from said holding means to said ball washing means, means for delivering balls to said retaining means, conveyor means for moving balls from said washing means toward said ball delivering means, a motor for driving said ball moving means and a control circuit for said motor, a lateral distributing means constituting a portion of said ball delivery means and extending along said ball retaining means for delivering balls to said retaining means in a plurality of spaced positions, and means dependent upon the filling of said retaining means and cooperating with said motor control means for stopping said motor when said retaining means are filled.

8. An apparatus for washing and dispensing golf balls or the like comprising means for holding a quantity of balls to be washed, a ball washing means, means for retaining a quantity of washed balls in position for dispensing, means for conducting balls from said holding means to said ball washing means, means for delivering balls to said retaining means, conveyor means for moving balls from said washing means toward said ball delivering means, a motor for driving said ball moving means and a control circuit for said motor, a lateral distributing means constituting a portion of said ball delivery means and extending along said ball retaining means for delivering balls to said retaining means in a plurality of spaced positions, and means dependent upon the filling of said retaining means and cooperating with said motor control means for stopping said motor when said retaining means are filled, said ball retaining means comprising a plurality of parallel spaced guides extending laterally from said conveyor means whereby said retaining means are filled in order laterally outwardly from said conveying means, and means dependent upon the reduction in the number of balls in the retaining means farthest from said conveying means to a predetermined low number for restarting said ball moving means.

9. An apparatus for washing and dispensing golf balls or the like comprising a casing, means including a hopper in the bottom of said casing for holding a quantity of balls to be washed and arranged to hold water for washing balls, agitator means for facilitating the movement of the balls toward said washing means, means associated with said washing means for lifting the balls to an upper position in said casing, a distributor means extending laterally from the outlet of said lifting means, means providing a plurality of guide paths extending downwardly from said distributor means for accumulating washed balls to be dispensed, an electric motor for driving said washing and lifting means, means for releasing accumulated balls from said guide means, an automatic control means for stopping said motor upon filling of said distributor, and means dependent upon predetermined emptying of balls from said dispensing means for starting said motor to refill said guides.

10. An apparatus for washing and dispensing golf balls or the like comprising a casing, means within said casing for holding a quantity of balls to be washed, a ball washing means in said casing, means providing a plurality of spaced parallel guide racks for holding washed balls in readiness for dispensing, means for lifting balls from said washing means to the upper portion of said casing adjacent the inlet end of said guide racks, and distributor means extending laterally from said ball lifting means along the inlet ends of said guide racks and comprising a roller mounted on a horizontal axis and forming one wall of a guide trough, means for driving said roller to move a portion thereof constituting a wall of the trough upwardly from the bottom of the trough to facilitate movement of balls along said trough and their distribution to said rack means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND DISPENSING GOLF BALLS OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A CASING, MEANS IN SAID CASING FOR HOLDING A QUANTITY OF BALLS TO BE WASHED, A BALL WASHING MEANS, MEANS FOR RETAINING WASHED BALLS IN POSITION FOR DISPENSING, MEANS FOR MOVING BALLS FROM SAID HOLDING MEANS TO SAID BALL WASHING MEANS, MEANS FOR DELIVERING BALLS TO SAID RETAINING MEANS, CONVEYOR MEANS INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE DRIVING ELEMENT AND A GUIDE TRACK ADJACENT THERETO FOR MOVING THE BALLS IN A SINGLE LINE TOWARD SAID DELIVERING MEANS AND CONSTITUTING A PORTION OF SAID WASHING MEANS FOR MOVING THE BALLS FROM SAID WASHING MEANS TO SAID BALL DELIVERING MEANS, AND MEANS PROVIDING AN ENLARGED CHAMBER FOR ACCUMULATING A MASS OF BALLS IN FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE ANOTHER BETWEEN SAID TRACK AND SAID DELIVERING MEANS FOR HOLDING SOME OF THE ACCUMULATED BALLS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID DRIVING ELEMENT WHEREBY THE AVERAGE RATE OF MOVEMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL BALLS IN SLOWED AND FURTHER CLEANING IS EFFECTED BY ROTATION OF THE ACCUMULATED BALLS. 